Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Earlham council recommends 8% water increase, 35% sewer rate hike for FY27
Summary
At a May 26 special session, the Earlham City Council, after a presentation by Clerk/Treasurer Jessica L. Visser, agreed by consensus to recommend an 8% water rate increase and a 35% sewer rate increase for fiscal year 2027; the sewer increase is driven by Phase 2 of the sewer lagoon project.
The Earlham City Council met in special session on May 26, 2026, and by consensus recommended rate changes for utilities in fiscal year 2027. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica L. Visser presented three scenarios for water and sewer rates, and the council discussed the differences among the proposals.
After discussion, the council "reached consensus" to recommend an 8% increase in the water rate for FY27 and a 35% increase in the sewer rate for FY27. The council attributed the larger sewer increase to Phase 2 of the city's sewer lagoon project, which the transcript cited as the driving factor behind the sewer recommendation. The transcript does not specify the current dollar rates or the projected dollar impact to customers under these percentage changes.
No public comments were received during the public forum on these items. The meeting record does not show a formal vote or ordinance adoption on the rates at this session; the action is recorded as a council recommendation for inclusion in the FY27 budgeting or rate-setting process. The special session adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
Next steps, as stated in the transcript, were not specified; the record does not indicate when or how the council will formally adopt new rates or whether additional public hearings are planned.
